Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Salem Main Library | JP Trotter | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | TROTTER | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... West Salem Branch Library | JP Tro | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
When Polly wakes up one morning, she finds her world covered in fog.She can't see the apple tree or the duck pond or the horse barn.Mama says they're all still there, but how does she know? Together, Polly and Mama set off to find the familiar landmarks of the farm, and along the way Polly discovers there are some things she just knows, too.Soft, evocative watercolor paintings bring to life this gentle story about a day of simple discoveries and a child's growing confidence in her perception of the world.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In this quiet picture book, Polly experiences a foggy day for the first time. "Where did everything go?" she asks. Mother explains that everything is still there; it's just hidden by the damp air. "How do you know...?" asks Polly. "I just do," replies Mama. This short exchange becomes a refrain throughout as mother and daughter go outside to look for the swing, the duck pond, and the barn. The fog is a sort of metaphor for faith. At night, when Mama tucks the child into bed and says "I love you," the child answers, "I know." This time, the roles are reversed: Mama asks, "How do you know?" and Polly replies, "I just do." The story, though comforting, is predictable. The realistic pictures, rendered in soft watercolors, are lovely. Each spread shows part of the scene in focus while the rest is muted in white and gray shadows. Often, Polly, her mother, and their dog are defined, while the house, the scarecrow, or the distant trees are barely visible. One stunning illustration has a close-up of a dew-covered spider web as its focal point, while the main characters are obscured behind the mist rising off the pond. If you already own enough warm and fuzzy "I love you" books, you won't need this title. But if you want a picture book about fog-and there are not many out there-this one will do nicely.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A foggy morning is a wonderland for a curious child in Trotter's debut. Polly is disturbed when she awakens one morning to see that her familiar world has disappeared. Her wonderfully engaged Mama explains to her that fog is "damp air that you can see," and accompanies her on an early morning walk of discovery. Each time they stop at a familiar landmark, Polly looks back at the previous one and remarks that it's gone. Her mom reassures her it's still there, wherein Polly asks, "How do you know?" The answer is always, "I just do." Polly gets her own chance to respond in kind when her loving mother tucks her in bed that night. How does she know her mom loves her? She just does. With some work, this could be a springboard to a lesson about context clues: How do the characters know? Downing's watercolor illustrations perfectly evoke a foggy morning with smudged and grayed-out backgrounds and dew settling on the vegetation. A heartwarming look at the bond between an inspiring mother and her child as they share the natural world with each other. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
There have been many books about children getting their first look at snow. In this one, a young girl, Polly, looks out the window on a foggy day and asks, "Where did everything go?" Polly and her mother head outside to explore a cold, misty world in which familiar landmarks seem to have disappeared. Two-page spreads follow mother and child as they rediscover Polly's swing, the pond, and the barn. Polly asks her mother how she knows something is still there if it can't be seen: "I just know," Mama reiterates. And that night, when her mother tucks Polly into bed and tells her, "I love you," the child answers, "I know." This quiet book does a nice job of explaining a bit of natural phenomenon and then linking it to emotions. The artwork, sprayed lightly with gray, is soft edged and plain. Facial expressions are sometimes stiff, but the mood of exploration and love sustains the story. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2006 Booklist